<p>My parents know how much I want to go to MIT, but $46,000 is a steep price for my dream school. I'd rather them not struggle more than they have to just to send me through school. In addition, I received a full ride with a book allowance for University of Maryland College Park. I want to study computer science, but my end goal is neural computing/computational neuroscience, so I know regardless I have to go to grad school. I'm pretty set on UMD since it would be completely free, but I just want to make sure I'm not missing out on something that would greatly impact my future by not going to MIT. Would it be worth all the debt to just go to MIT?</p>
<p>That is an awful lot of money per year for just about anyone to come up with. It would be out of my league as a parent. That said, it sounds like you have already answered some of your question - You might be able to consider MIT for grad school.</p>
<p>No. If your family had the money, or your parents could afford to do this without severely compromising their futures, retirements, etc, and they wanted to do this, yes. But they have to be on board because you can’t borrow that kind of money without one of them involved. And the differential is not likely to be worth the difference. Think about going to MIT for grad school when it would be on your borrowed dime.</p>
<p>For your interests, I think so. Your career will be lucrative, and you’ll be more likely to find a spot at the top of your industry with an MIT CS degree, not to mention the remarkable start-up and networking opportunities there.</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>I’d think it much better to go with the full ride to the local school and save the money for possible grad school or downpayment on a house or many other things. Congrats! I think MIT would be a great place for grad school!</p>
<p>Having said “Yes!”…here are some qualifiers:
I agree with cptofthehouse above. If your parents can help you without severely compromising their futures, and providing you will not have to take part time jobs while in school to support yourself, I think the answer is a resounding YES… MIT would be worth it. If you are bright enough to have been offered admission to this great institution, by all means you belong there and should be there. </p>
<p>My biggest regret as a parent is that my eldest son did not attend MIT as an undergraduate when he had the chance. He did just fine as an undergrad at a highly ranked Univ getting a dual degree in c and ee engineering and going on to work at the most highly coveted computer company in his field. But once his studies were underway in college, it became clear the program and faculty just were not on the same level as his intellect. So our hope was that he would go on to graduate school and really put his beautiful mind to work with others who are also the best and the brightest. But now he finds himself stuck. The decision to go off to grad school is no longer just his. Life gets more entangled with relationships and other concerns. It’s just never going to happen for our son. </p>
<p>Since your question has some real salience for me, I looked at MIT’s website for Neuroscience and compared it with UM. MIT is at the forefront of this new field. And, if I am not mistaken, you should be able to take graduate level courses in your Junior and Senior years as well, not to mention the research opportunities that would open all kinds of doors. If you are motivated and inspired to make the most of your education, the resources and people are there at your disposal. School is what you make of it. </p>
<p>Here is one last question. And this is a question you must answer honestly. What has been the motivating force behind your academic success so far? Was it the goal of gaining admission to a top university so you could get a good job? Or were you more driven by an innate love of learning and a strong intellectual curiosity and aptitude? If the answer is the former, then UM will suit your needs just fine. But if the latter better describes what drives you, then by all means, go for it. </p>